Sandal with adjustable arch support

ABSTRACT

A sandal that uses a pump and bladder system to provide foot arch support a user. The sandal uses a strap system that defines a pump and a tubing system that attaches to the front and instep of a sandal. The instep of the sandal defines an air bladder that connects to the tubbing system. The air bladder inflates and provides arch support to a user of the sandal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of a provisional U.S. Patent application No. 62/917,005, filed on Nov. 15, 2018, being titled Sandal with Adjustable Arch Support.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains generally to the field of footwear. It is a sandal that provides an adjustable arch support that is adjusted using air pressure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sandals, in their simplest form, are an open type of footwear consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by straps going over the instep. Sandals leave most of a user's upper foot exposed. Sandals are worn for comfort, economy, and sometimes as a fashion choice.

Soles of sandals are typically flat and have no arch support. Yet some sandals may have arch supports, yet the arch supports will be fixed and not adjustable. A fixed arch support may comfort the person for whom it was designed for, yet it will be of great discomfort for anyone else wearing the sandal.

The arches of the foot, formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones, strengthened by ligaments and tendons, allow the foot to support the weight of the body in the erect posture with the least weight.¹ ¹Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arches of the foot,, Wikepedia: Arches of the Foot, seen on Apr. 29, 2019

Ailments that are caused by improper arch support are heel pain, over pronation, Morton's toe difficulties, Posterior Tibial Tendonitis, and Plantar Fasciitis. The referenced ailments are treated by providing orthotics that provide arch support.

Orthotics are expensive and cost prohibitive to some whom would choose to wear them. The cost associated with orthotics and the economic aspects of sandals go against providing orthotic devices to those whom choose to wear sandals on a regular basis. Most sandals provide little to no arch support.

The present invention is a sandal that will use a pump and bladder system to manually provide support to a user's foot arch. The sandal of the present invention will be an inexpensive alternative to custom orthotic sandals, if any exist.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a sandal that uses a pump and bladder system to provide support to a user's foot arch.

The sandal comprises of a sole that has a front section, an instep section and a rear section, and a strap system that is attached to a sole at positions that correspond to the front and instep sections. A pump is attached to the strap system. An air bladder is attached to the sole at the instep section that will correspond to a user's foot arch. A tubing system connects the pump and to the bladder. The tubing system allows air to pass from the pump to the bladder. The pump will have an integral manual air release valve.

An object of the present invention it to provide a sandal that will have an adjustable arch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sandal that will prevent foot ailments.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sandal that will help treat foot ailments.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive orthotic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regards to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram of how the pump, the tubing system and the bladder of the present invention connect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the present invention is a sandal 100 that uses a pump and bladder system to provide foot arch support to a user. the sandal 100 comprises of a sole 10 that has a front section 10 a, an instep section 10 b and a rear section 10 c. A strap system 20 that is attached to a sole 10 at positions that correspond to the front 10 a and instep 10 b sections of the sole 10. A pump 30 that is attached to the strap system 20. A Bladder 40 that is attached to the sole 10 at the instep section 10 b of the sole 10 that will correspond to a user's foot arch. And, a tubing system 50 that connects the pump 30 to the bladder 40.

In preferred embodiments, the pump 30 has an integral air release valve 60.

In preferred embodiments, the bladder 40 is an air bladder 40.

An advantage of the present invention is that provides a sandal that has an adjustable arch.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a sandal that prevents foot ailments.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a sandal that helps treat foot ailments.

Still yet another Advantage of the present invention is that it provides an inexpensive orthotic device.

The embodiments of the apparatus and method of use described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, combinations, variations, and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims. Further, nothing in the above-provided discussions of the apparatus and method should be construed as limiting the invention to a particular embodiment or combination of embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sandal that uses a pump and bladder system to provide foot arch support to a user, the sandal comprises: a sole that has a front section, an instep section and a rear section; a strap system that is attached to the sole at positions that correspond to the front and instep sections of the sole; a pump that is attached to the strap system; a bladder that is attached to the sole at the instep section of the sole; and a tubing system that connects to the pump to the bladder.
 2. The sandal that uses a pump and bladder system to provide foot arch support to a user of claim 1, wherein the pump has an integral air release valve.
 3. The sandal that uses a pump and bladder system to provide foot arch support to a user of claim 2, wherein the bladder is an air bladder. 